"Tutix and the Ziost Avenger"

[Mei]

((Time stamp: after the events of the Battle for Iokath/”Resurgence” and before ”So, Boss is Captain Now?”. Further, I’d like to dedicate this piece to all you Jawa lovers out there and especially to @Nicohlas who told me Jawas weren’t allowed on Imperial vessels… you knew this would happen! ))

”Tutix and the Ziost Avenger”

Tutix Kuwix could not sleep. Not tonight anyway. Not now after he had rested away the fright and strains of the battle the other night. No, he couldn’t keep his little glowing eyes shut, and not for a lack of trying. There was just so much excitement now! Before, he had been too shell shocked to really take it all in when he and Boss first arrived on the Ziost Avenger. And, oh the stars! This ship was truly the biggest ship he had ever seen!

He crawled from his bunk and peered up the stairs of The Shengli. He could see the warm glow of Boss’s desk lamp, but also heard Boss snoring. He grinned under his hood. Boss had promised Bigger Boss that Boss would keep an eye on Tut. But Boss was sound asleep… and the Ziost Avenger awaited Tut.

Quietly, and sneakily, Tutix tippy-toed over to the blast door of The Shengli. Thankfully for him, the ship’s door had been left open since Tut and Boss were working around the clock to get her back up and running again.

Little Tut’s amber eyes still widened when looked up around the hangar. He would never become unamazed at the size of this place! But he had spent most of his time here, and once in the Medical Bay, but he had been too dazed to really see it all. And besides… A ship that could eat another ship whole! This was AMAZING!

For Tut, The Shengli had been the biggest ship he’d ever seen, not to mention actually be part of the crew! But this… this… what did Boss call it? Oh yes: a Harrower-Class Imperial Dreadnaught. And Tut didn’t even know what that mean, but it must mean “really big ship”!

Tutix squeezed his lips together with childish determination. He was going to see as much as this ship as he would get away with… but where to go first? He peered around the backend of The Shengli and saw the open hangar door. He grinned and quickly scurried across the hangar. He was nearly out of breath by the time his little legs reached the other side, but he quickly ducked out of the hangar and went to hide behind a crate that was marked with the Imperial logo.

Tut took a peek from behind the crates and saw the corridor was empty of Imperial guards. He looked at the crate again and pressed his ear to it to see if he could hear anything… but he couldn’t. Not hearing anything inside was probably good. Last time Tut heard something in a crate, it was ticking and Tut and Boss had to make a run for it before the thing blew up!

He took a moment to pat the crate, as if telling it it was doing a good job, before slipping out from hiding and strolling down the hall. He turned the corner. He remembered this section… there was an elevator on the other side of the blast door.

Looking both ways, Tut made a run for it and opened the blast door. The elevator was in front of him… like a shining light backed with an angelic chorus. The elevator would take him so many places…

For a moment the little jawa examined the buttons and couldn’t decide where to go first… Crew Deck? Engineering… His eyes brightened more. Engineering might have an engine!

He hopped and hit the button for the Engineering Deck, then quickly hid off to the side of the door just in case the guards were waiting for him. His little heart thumped in his chest as the elevator went down to the Engineering Deck.

Oh, Tut hoped Tut didn’t get Boss in trouble with Bigger Boss. But now he had come this far!

The elevator door opened, and Tut squinted his eyes. He learned early on that the glowing eyes made peering out of hiding an obvious move. So… Boss had told Tut to try squinting, and he had ever since.

From what his squinted eyes could tell, there were no guards. Excited, and giddy, Tut hopped and ran to the blast door. He stopped when it opened. His eyes widened bigger than ever before and he let out a gasp!

Bigger Boss’s ship, which ate Boss’s ship, had the most beautiful, the most clean, the most sparkling, amazing engine little Tutix had ever seen!

With his jaw slacked and mouth opened, Tux made his way to the window and pressed his hands on the glass, and then his face. He just stared! And he stared for sometime, just watching the engine. He imagined an engine like this one never failed, never smoked up, never just stopped for no apparent reason. Boss could use an engine like this, but… Tut’s eyes widened even more! This engine had to be bigger than The Shengli!

He sighed and stared some more, his breath fogging up the window.

It felt like only seconds to Tut, but it was really a good ten minutes before he thought about what the rest of ship must look like. He turned, looked at the computers and decided it wasn’t a good idea to touch anything. Boss had been very specific with Tut not to touch things. And when Boss told Tut not to do something, Tut would listen.

Back in the elevator, he stared at the buttons again. Command Deck sounded promising, and he hit the button. This time, he didn’t stand to the side. Guards must be sleeping too, Tut thought and nodded to himself.

But he was wrong.

The elevator doors opened and two guards, standing on either side of the blast door to the Command Deck, were staring at him. But they didn’t seem to move. Maybe they were statues…

But they weren’t statues and the guards took a moment to wonder what the heck a jawa was doing up on the Command Deck.

So Tutix started to walk, as if he belonged here. Then one of the statues moved!

“Eep!” Tutix exclaimed and jumped back.

“You aren’t authorized to be here,” the guard on the left said and stepped towards Tutix.

“Bigger Boss knows Boss!” Tutix exclaimed in Jawaese, but the guards didn’t understand him.

“What’s it saying?” the guard on the right looked to the guard on the left.

“Not a clue,” the left guard said, keeping his eye on the jawa.

“Boss is Captain!” again Tutix tried to explain how he was on this ship and ‘allowed to be here’.

The guard on the right looked from the jawa to the other guard. “Should I have him taken to the brig?”

“Probably.”

Tut’s eyes widen. Brig?! He knew what ‘brig’ meant! It meant he was going to be locked away and would never see Boss again!

And suddenly, he made a run for it. Not sure where to run to, he just started running passed the guard and onto the Command Deck. When the blast doors opened, he nearly fell over! This deck was HUGE! And in the center was a statue of a very very very scary sith.

Tut yelped, stumbled and kept running and running, heading to his left, where he would open another blast door to the ship’s archives, and run right into someone!

“No!” he cried out as he tumbled to the ground. “Boss knows Bigger Boss! Boss is Captain!” he defended himself.

“Stop that Jawa!” the guards shouted out.

“Tutix?”

Tut stopped crying ‘no’ and opened his eyes, only to see a familiar figure kneeling before him. His eyes widened and he smiled. It was Boss’s sister, Mei’li!

“You know this thing?” one of the guards said, frustration in his voice as he came up to Tutix and Mei’li.

The other guard coughed and gave the other a look.

Clearing his throat, the guard quickly added: “My lord.”

Mei’li helped Tutix to his feet and stood to be face to face with the guard. “I do. He’s a loyal crewmember to my brother.”

“My lord,” the guard said, “What is it doing here?”

“He,” she stressed that Tut wasn’t an ‘it’, “is probably just curious. He’s harmless.”

The guard hesitated and stepped closer. “My lord, we can’t have… him running about the ship. Especially without an escort.”

Mei’li looked down at Tut, and Tut looked up at Mei’li.

“I’ll return him where he belongs,” Mei said, and looked back to the guards. “Return to your post. You never know what other ‘critters’ my brother brought along with him,” she grinned as the guards straightened.

“Yes, my lord.”

Both guards would give her a stiff salute before returning to their post.

Mei’li looked down at Tutix again. “I was told Ke was supposed to keep an eye on you.”

“Boss did keep eye on Tut. But Tut waited for Boss to close eyes.”

Mei’li chuckled. “Where have you been… no wait… let me guess…” she narrowed her eyes and raised a brow. “The Engineering Deck?”

Tutix nodded eagerly and kind of wiggled out of excitement. “Bigger Boss has shiny ship!”

The sith lord laughed. “Yes, Bigger Boss does have a shiny ship,” she started walking with Tut behind her. “I’ll show you around… to places you are allowed to be, okay?”

“So Boss not in trouble with Bigger Boss?”

“That’s right,” Mei’li nodded. “Boss needs all the points he can get with Bigger Boss…”

The two headed off the Command Deck to explore the Crew Deck, take a peek at the Bridge and the Officers’ Deck. There was so much more, but Mei couldn’t take Tut to see it all. But still, in Tut’s mind this place was a city of its own. A city in the stars. He wished he could stay here forever, if only just to see that engine every day. For in his little mind, the Ziost Avenger would be an adventure he would never forget.


The End.


Or is it the beginning?

[Mei]

“Tutix vs. the Daydream”

It had been a couple days since Tutix’s little adventure around the Ziost Avenger. And for a time, his curiosity was satisfied. But by nature he was a curious Jawa. Most of his time was spent in the hangar with The Shengli and Boss. But he knew there was more. More than what Boss’s sister had shown him. After all, the Ziost Avenger was an entire city in the stars!

“Hello? Come in, Tut,” Boss’s voice interrupted his day dreams. “What are you thinking about?”

Tut looked over at Boss, who looked like a grease monkeylizard.

“Tut looking at big hangar,” Tut answered.

“Don't be gettin’ any ideas of adventure again,” Boss said. “Mei-mei saved your hide the first time. Twice might be pushing your luck. Can you hand me that hydrospannor?”

Tut looked around and saw where Boss was pointing to. They had their own tools, but Bigger Boss let them use the fancy tools that belonged on the Ziost Avenger. Tut smiled as he looked at the shiny tool. It was so new, so well kept…. Could it be that the pilots aboard this ship were better than Boss?

Tut’s head tilted to the side in curious thought.

“Tut,” Boss interrupted again. “Hydrospannor, please?”

The little Jawa grinned, caught again in a daydream of thoughts. He went over to Boss and handed him the tool.

“Thanks, bud.”

Tutix went over to the boxes that were set next to the tools and hopped up on them to take a seat. He watched Boss for a little while before his gaze began to wander.

Up, up, and up he looked. The perfectly straight lines of Imperial flags hung so perfectly on the walls. What was it like to be an Imperial officer… a pilot… a hero…

His glowing eyes fell again to Boss… who was recently reinstated as a Captain in the Imperial Navy. Tutix smiled. Soon, Tut and Boss would be starfighter heroes. Tut recalled when Bigger Boss awarded Boss with a medal. It was so shiny, and Boss was so proud.

Maybe one day Tut could get a medal too, the Jawa wondered. He looked up again and spotted the window to the officer’s lounge. He could see the shadows moving.

Maybe one day he could be amongst them too… Tut and Boss, Imperial Heroes. Imperial pilots. Oh yes, it would be a glorious day for all the jawas across the galaxy.

Perhaps even songs would be sung about him!

Tut’s short legs started to swing gently as he drifted in thought…

….deeper and deeper….

….the daydream taking Tut away from reality….

The alarms wailed throughout the ship. All hands on deck! All pilots to their ships!

Boss was on his feet quickly, but quicker yet was Tutix Kuwix, Imperial Starfighter and Pilot. In his daydream, Tut was still just as small, still dressed in his little brown robes, but they were covered in a miniature Imperial Starfighter suit… custom tailored just for him. Him, Tutix the Great. Tutix the Legendary. Tutix the Hero.

“After you, boss,” Boss said to Tut.

And triumphantly, Tut lead the way to he and Boss’s fighter ship. Tut took the command seat, and Boss took to be his back up.

“Boss buckle up!” Tut commanded Boss as he sped the fighter out of the hangar.

Tut and Boss were the first pilots out to battle and they instantly came under fire by more than two hundred Republic fighters! Blaster shots were coming at them from every direction! Anyone else would have been blown away, but not Tut!

Tut piloted the ship like a boss! Weaving in and out between ships. Dodging blaster fire like a ping-pong ball! There was no pilot in the galaxy, not even Boss!, who was better than him.

And single handedly, Tut and Boss annihilated the Republic starships!

The two heroes flew back to the Ziost Avenger hearing their comrades whooping and cheering! As they departed their ship, which of course had not been hit even once!, they were greeted by Bigger Boss.

Bigger Boss was beaming with pride and clapping for them.... for Tutix.

“You, Tutix Kuwix, have made the Empire proud today,” Bigger Boss said. “For your bravery and heroics I grant you with this medal of high honor.”

The others cheered as Bigger Boss pinned a HUGE shiny medal in Tut’s robe.

“May every Jawa in the galaxy hear of Tut the Amazing,” Bigger Boss finished his speech and stepped back with the others to cheer on Tutix.

As Tut was being lifted onto their shoulders…

“Tut?” Boss’s voice drew him back to reality.

The Jawa looked at Boss, who was grinning.

“Why do you look like you are cheering?” Boss chuckled.

And Tut realised his little arms were in the air in celebration of his imaginary victory.

Quickly, Tut dropped his arms. “Tut stretch,” he lied and climbed down from his perch on the boxes. He picked up a wrench and went to work on another section of The Shengli.

The End.

[Mei]

“Tutix vs. the Imperial Mouse Droid”

Boss looked down at Tutix and was trying to look his sharpest in his new Imperial uniform. Seeing Boss in uniform wasn't something new, but it sure was… unusual.

“I look good, right?” Boss asked Tut.

And Tut crossed his arms. “Boss look like Boss is trying to impress Bigger Boss too much.”

Boss frowned and his stance relaxed. “I'm not a chump. An’ ‘sides, I've been trying to get back to this for a long long time. The least you could do is be proud of me.”

“Tut proud of Boss, but Tut still think Boss trying too hard.”

“Look,” Boss said and kneeled to eye-level. “I'm still me, okay? I can't be changed that easily.”

“Boss promise Tut?”

Boss nodded his head. “I promise. When this is all over, I'll still be the same lovable guy that I am now,” Boss smirked, knowing full well what a pain in the side he was. “Look, I've got a meeting to get to, and I'd like not to be late. Could you help me out and clean up those parts over there?”

Tut looked to where Boss was pointing too and nodded.

“Thanks, bud,” Boss said and stood, giving Tut a pat on the head.

Tut watched Boss leave the hangar, and just felt that everything was going to be changing. Tut lowered his head and kicked at a piece of metal in the ground as he made his way over to the ship parts.

The Jawa stopped when he heard a squeaky sound behind him. He didn't turn right away, but his glowing amber eyes darted from one end of the hangar to the other.

And then he saw it… a little Imperial mouse droid navigating its way towards The Shengli.

Tut’s eyes widened! Who did Squeaky Droid think it was?! That was Boss’s ship!

The Jawa stopped everything, and metal clattered to the ground. “No-ooooooooooooo!” Tut screamed and made a mad dash towards the droid.

The MSE-droid stopped, sensing Tut. It turned in time to see the jawa leap through the air, ready to pounce.

With a metallic squeal, the mouse droid scurried out of Tut’s trajectory. And Tut went face first, full belly flop into the hard hangar floor.

The hangar fell silent.

And the Tut groaned and looked up. The mouse droid was looking at him, and still too close to the opening of The Shengli.

The droid chirpped a little “ha-ha” whistle and proceeded up the ramp, going right inside Boss’s ship!

Tutix grumbled and quickly found his feet. There was no way Tut was going to let Squeaky Droid tear Boss’s ship apart! And especially not from the inside out!

“Scrap metal!” Tut yelled when he boarded the ship, calling for the pesky droid. “This Boss shil, and Tut won't let--”

The mouse droid charged Tut from behind, coming out of hiding from the corner. And Tut lost his balance and fell down. The droid narrowly missing being smushed by the Jawa.

Another, sing-songy chirp of victory sounded from the droid.

“Get out!” Tut shouted, looking up from the floor.

The mouse droid appeared lost, going in circles as if his programming wasn't quite right.

Tut got up and stomped his little feet. “This Boss ship!” he yelled again, and once again the droid charged him. This time, Tut jumped out of the way, hopping up on the lower most step of the stairs.

Again, the mouse droid chirpped and squeaked, and started bumping up against the step. Tut grinned and pointed at the droid.

“Tut smarter than Squeaky Droid!”, he chuckled, stomped his feet in a fit of giggles, and laughed until his belly ached!

The droid chirpped in agitation.

And Tut finally silenced his laughter and picked up Boss’s wrench that had been left in the stairs.

Still, the mouse droid kept bumping into the lower step. After all, it had a mission to complete.

Tut raised his arm in the air and made a fatal blow to the droid’s shielding. He hit it again just to make sure it was “dead”.

“Ha!” Tut chimed in victory over the now smoking droid. “Squeaky Droid no match for Tut! Ha!” he gave it a kick

….and then.... The Imperial MSE-droid fulfilled its mission…. though revealed not to the proper person.

Tut stopped laughing when a jittery, malfunctioning holorecording began to play of Boss’s Daughter.

“Hi dad,” Boss’s Daughter said. “Got your message. I'm heading home, but wanted to let you know I got your message. Be safe, ‘kay?”

The holo went out and Tut sat in the stairs quietly…

So… Squeaky Droid wasn't spying on Boss and wasn't going to destroy Boss’s ship?

Tut’s glowing eyes widened as he looked at the shattered pieces of Imperial property he demolished. Carefully he began picking up the mess… he looked around and decided the best thing to do was put it in the trash bin.

After all.... what was one little missing droid of probably a thousand?

And like a child trying to hide his mistakes, Tut dusted off his hands and exited the scene of the crime.

The End.

[Mei]

”Tutix vs. the Confession”

Tut felt bad. In fact, Tut felt guilty. And his ‘guilty mannerisms’ were very much ‘in-your-face’. Tut looked down. Tut fidgeted nervously with his little hands. Tut didn’t make eye contact. And the dead give away… Tut’s little left foot was drawing back and forth on the ground with a pointed toe. If Boss could see underneath Tut’s dark hood, he’s probably see the tip of Tut’s tongue peeking out at the corner of his mouth.

And Boss kept looking over at Tut, but Tut didn’t look back. In fact, Tut was doing everything in his little power to avoid Boss.

Boss sighed heavily across the way. He had been repairing part of The Shengli’s shielding and had been asking Tut for help. But the little Jawa couldn’t. He just couldn’t. Guilt didn’t sit well with Tut and he was still haunted by ‘spirit’ of the Imperial Mouse Droid he had smushed a few days ago.

Nightmares! Yes, nightmares! Every night Tut had nightmares! Nightmares of little squeaky sounds. Of the little MSE-droid’s wheels rolling on the metalic surface. But the squeaking! Oh how the squeaking wouldn’t stop!!

A wrench hit the ground with a loud clatter. Tut didn’t look over. He knew it was Boss who had dropped the wrench. And Tut could almost feel Boss’s eyes burning into him.

“Good grief, Tut, what the heck?” Boss blurted out.

Tutix froze, his little left foot still pointed to the ground. His glowing eyes looking off to one side. And Tut didn’t move, as if moving would make him scene by a predator.

“Tut?” Boss came again.

And only Tut’s eyes shifted, the rest of his little body was frozen solid, like a statue.

Boss stood and started to walk over. Tut’s eyes widened. What should Tut do? Should Tut run? Tut thought running would be a great idea, but Boss had longer legs than Tut and would quickly run Tut down.

Tut closed his mouth, tucking his lips together. The guiltiest of all guilty expressions was hidden in the darkness of his cloak.

Boss came to stand in front of Tut and Boss crossed his arms. Tut was done for now!

And still, the little jawa didn’t move.

“Oh for cryin’ out loud, you didn’t!” Boss started to assume something.

Tut’s eyes shifted upward to look at Boss, but still… the jawa remained frozen.

“You went into Nic’s office, didn’t you?” Boss was mad, but that wasn’t the case.

“No,” Tutix managed to squeak out his response in Jawaese.

Boss took a step back and examined Tut.

Tut’s left foot shifted slightly from its off-center position and moved to the left a little as he grew more and more nervous.

“Then…” Boss was trying to figure out Tut. “What’s with the whole frozen Tutix statue thing going on here?”

Boss was worried, and Tut shifted his eyes downward.

“Tut broke something Tut didn’t mean to break.”

“What?” Boss demanded, but tried to keep his cool.

Slowly… so very, very slowly… Tutix turned his head to look back at the garbage bin inside The Shengli.

“Tut was attacked,” Tut tried to distort the truth.

“Attacked?” Boss doubted and raised a brow.

Slowly, and once again so very, very, painfully slowly… Tut nodded his little head. His glowing eyes went to the flood again.

“Tut and Shengli attacked… by… by big… bigger BIGGEST DROID!” Tut over-sold the sale and looked up at Boss. The jawa’s eyes were huge as if he were recalling the most frightening moment of his life!!

Boss glanced from Tutix to the The Shengli and back to Tut.

“So this… big, bigger, biggest droid is on the ship I’ve been in and out of all day repairing? And by some… I don’t know… miracle, I missed it?” Boss was frowning.

Tutix nodded, but couldn’t speak.

“I had one rule. Just ONE!” Boss was worked up now. “And that was… what was it again Tutix? Don’t…”

“... touch anything…” Tut finished and lowered his head more.

Boss let out a sigh. “Okay…” Boss said. “Tell me how much damage you did. And I want honesty. We have a friendship based on trust and honesty,” Boss reminded Tut. “How big was this droid really?”

“Small, tiny,” Tut confessed.

“So you were attacked by a small, tiny droid?”

Tut shook his head. “Not attacked. Tut not attacked. Tut attacked Squeaky Droid.”

“Squeaky?!” Boss shot out, louder than he meant. “You mean… a MSE-droid? Standard Imperial issued multi-purpose droid who runs errands like… message delivery to opposite sides of a huge ship like the Ziost?”

Tut nodded and felt bad.

Boss started laughing. “Why? Why would you think that droid was even a threat?”

Tut un-statued himself and looked up at Boss. Tut’s little head tilted to the side. Was Boss laughing at him? Was Boss not mad at him?

“Tut thought Squeaky Droid was a spy,” Tut confessed. “Squeaky Droid might have bomb!”

Boss laughed harder. “Is it repairable? I mean, those things are like a cred a dozen,” Boss was still laughing.

“Bigger Boss won’t be mad at Boss because Tut broke Squeaky Droid?”

Boss shook his head. “Doubt it, but…” Boss’s laugh ceased. “It’s repairable, right?”

Tut hummmmmmmed and shook his head. “Tut smush Squeaky Droid flat.”

Boss stared at Tut for a long time, then just shook his head.

And all Tut could do was shrug, slightly lifting his hands into the air. “Maybe Boss and Tut make better Squeaky Droid.”

Boss still shook his head, but Boss had humor back on his face.

“You know… they say not to shoot the messenger.”

The End.

[Mei]

(( @Seraphie - this mischief is for you! Enjoy!!))

”Tutix vs. the Relics”

The Ziost Avenger was bustling with commotion and Tutix found himself feeling a bit overwhelmed and rather jittery. Boss had disappeared on Tut, but had told Tut to stay in the hangar or on The Shengli. Stay out of trouble, Boss had said. But Tut being Tut could only follow orders for so long before curiosity bested him.

And oh had it bested him again! All the excitement! All the commotion. Even Bigger Boss himself had left the ship! Something EXTRAORDINARY was happening!, and it was all happening down below on the surface of that unplanet, Iokath.

Tutix looked out the hangar as a group of shuttles flew by. Out of excitement, Tut hopped and gave a little whoop of a cheer. Whatever Bigger Boss and his men were doing, it was BIG! And it was IMPORTANT! For a moment, even little Tutix Kuwix felt he was a part of what was happening! Tut grinned, but again… that curiosity of his was about to get the better of him.

Dropping the tool in his hand, Tut turned and ran out of the hanger, down the corridor, around the corner, through the blast doors and right into the elevator. He had to jump to hit the button for the Crew Deck.

Tut was going to do everything Boss told him to do! Oh yes, Tut was going to remain in his best bestest behavior! But Tut still wanted to see everything up close and personal! And how could he from the other hangar? He tapped his little foot impatiently as the elevator made its way to the Crew Deck. It was a short trip, but when the chance to see real military action was at stake… it felt like a lifetime!

As the elevator doors swished open, the Jawa ran! He ran so fast he almost ran right into the blast doors before they could fully open!

Completely lost, excited, and really have no idea where he was going, Tut ran right by the Crew Quarters where Boss was. His brown robes were flowing behind him as his little feet carried him swiftly down the hall and around the corner.

He’d stop running when he found Boss, but then… but wait! Tut burst through another set of doors and came to a slippery stop. He slid a few meters into the room. His amber glowing eyes widened and his jaw opened in awe.

Instantly, Tut knew he wasn't supposed to be here and quickly jumped to the side, hiding himself from view of the woman sitting at a desk at the opposite end of the room.

Tut crouched.

Tut held his breath.

And Tut peeked from his hiding spot behind a massive golden reliquary to look at the woman across the room. The woman was scanning the room with her eyes, obviously alerted that she may not be alone when the doors opened.

But with no one in view, she looked back at her paperwork.

Tut relaxed and breathed quietly. It was then, at this moment of calm, that Tut really got a look at where he was....

Of all the things little Tut had seen in the world, never had he seen such a collection of pretty, shiny things. Relics! Artifacts! Technology!

A small gasp escaped from Tut as he stood up straighter. He came around to the front of the golden reliquary display and blinked his eyes. What treasure had Tut just stumbled upon?!

All awe and excitement of the shuttles leaving the Ziost Avenger were gone.

Slowly, and oh so carefully… Tutix made his way up the little steps that lead to the reliquary. Hesitantly, he reached out and touched the surface. It was cold, but so smooth. Tut had to wondering what a shiny surface like this would do to The Shengli. Would it make the ship sparkle?, he wondered.

Tut’s glowing eyes drifted to his right… and at a big button begging to be pushed. And Tut knew better, but… but… oh Tut couldn't take the curiosity! He quickly reached over and hit the button! Maybe it would open the shiny gold box! Maybe it would tell him what was inside! Maybe it was a holorecording! Maybe it was something so amazing that… NOPE!

ZAP!

“EEEEEEP!” Tut wailed as he flew backwards through the air. His little body not standing a chance against the electric jolt he just received.

Splat! Smush! Zoink!

Tut landed on the floor with a thump and a skid.

Bigger Boss!!!! was Tut’s first rapid thought on how much trouble he had just gotten Boss into! The room began to spin, and it was at the very last moment that Tutix heard the woman…

“This is Captain Hayeta Talutah, I have a security breach in the Reclamation Lab,” she was saying as she made her way towards the little Jawa.

And then Tutix could hang on no more… as thoughts of how much trouble he would be in, and how much trouble Boss would be in, and…and…. Tutix blacked out.


Silence.


Nothing.



Tutix Kuxiw fluttered his eyes open. Everything was blurry until he blinked the blur away.

“That was a close on, buddy.”

It was Boss! And Tut jolted his gaze in Boss’s direction.

“Tut didn't mean to get Boss in trouble! Tut got lost! It all Boss’s fault Tut went to Shiny Pretty Room! Boss no tell Tut where he go! Bigger Boss should be mad at Boss, not Tut!” the little Jawa was quick to defend himself.

Boss held his hand up, “Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Tut. Heermann doesn't know about this, and what--” Boss tilted his head. “What? Why do you look confused?”

Tut blinked, lost. “What is a Heermann?”

Boss started laughing at Tut, and it was Tut’s turn to tilt his head to the side.

“Right, right,” Boss was still laughing. “Bigger Boss is Heermann. And Bigger Boss isn't here. He doesn't know about your adventure to the lab,” Boss couldn't stop laughing.

“Boss not in trouble then?”

“Not yet, but give me time,” Boss chuckled.

“Boss in trouble with Lab Boss?”

Boss grinned. “Well, you know… other than being told I need to keep a better eye on you, I think we’re cool. Honestly, we were both more concerned that you were okay… well, she may have been worried about you breaking her lab...”

Tut lowered his head. “Tut need to apologize for all Tut’s curiosity.”

Boss nodded. “Yeah probably, but let's let everyone do their jobs first, huh?”

Boss couldn't see it, but Tutix was smiling.

As Boss left Tut aboard The Shengli, the little Jawa looked around. The repairs were coming along and it would only be a matter of time before Tut had to leave.

Tut didn't want to leave. Tut liked the Ziost Avenger and the people in board… even though he may not realise that the people may not care for him…. Still, this had been an amazing journey Tut would remember for ever.

The End.

[Mei]

(( @Nicohlas - like it or not, Bigger Boss has won the heart of my little Jawa. ))

”Tutix vs. the Parting Gift”

Tutix Kuwix was perched up in a stack of crates in the hangar of the Ziost Avenger. His little legs were swinging back and forth as he tinkered with a small metallic box. If his face were visible under the dark shadow of his hood, one would see his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth. He grunted quietly as he mustered his strength to put together his little boxed gift.

The jawa glanced up every once in a while to see Boss checking the exterior of The Shengli. The sho was almost spaceworthy again, which meant one thing… Tut would be leaving soon.

And Tut didn't want to leave. He liked Bigger Boss’s bigger ship. There was still so much to see and do. But more importantly, Tut didn't want to lose Boss. Tut had lost Boss before for five whole years!

Tut’s glowing eyes lowered, returning back to the metal box he was working with. He had to put his elbow into turning one of the screws. The last thing Tut wanted to have happen was for the box to open before it was ready to.

“What are you playing at?” Boss called to Tut.

Tutix looked up, tongue still sticking from the side of his mouth.

“Tut make Bigger Boss a gift,” the Jawa explained.

Boss was still examining the siding of the ship. “Uh-huh,” Boss hummed. “Just make sure you address it to ‘Moff Bigger Boss’, okay?”

Tut nodded, missing the chuckle and sarcasm in Boss’s voice. He rocked slightly in his seat as he turned the metal box over to examine it.

“You know,” Boss spoke again, and Tut looked up. “Nic’s not up here any more. So… I don't think you'll be able to give it to him yourself.”

Tut’s expression saddened and he let out a sorrowful him. He really liked Bigger Boss, even though Bigger Boss was busy with bigger, more important things than little Tut. But that didn't matter to the Jawa. What mattered was Bigger Boss’s extended hospitality to Tut and Boss. And that made the Imperial Moff okay in Tut’s mind. Bigger Boss could have left them stranded. Stars! Most others would have from what Tut had heard of the Empire. But that is what made Bigger Boss better than any other Bigger Boss’s in the Empire…. at least to Tut’s knowledge.

And not to mention Bigger Boss had even given little Tutix Kuwix medical aid…. well, his people, not the Bigger Boss himself.

But most importantly, Bigger Boss had pinned a shiny metal on Boss. Boss had purpose now. Boss felt he belonged. And though little Tut may not admit it, Boss was right to be here. Boss had wanted this for a long time.

Tut smiled. He would miss Boss.

With a sigh, Tut looked back to his little metal box. He turned it over several times, inspecting it as carefully as Boss was inspecting The Shengli.

Boss came over and leaned on the crates next to Tut. At the same time Tut and Boss sighed at their respective work…. Boss at the ship, and Tutix at the box...

“Beautiful,” they said at the exact same time.

Suspiciously, they both turned to look at each other and broke into a laugh.

“Gimme that box,” Boss said, reaching for the little parting gift. “What is this?”

Tut handed it to Boss. “Open for Bigger Boss when Bigger Boss returns.”

Boss looked the box over and shrugged. “Nice craftsmanship,” he complimented the jawa’s work, but was still curious what was inside. Boss looked up at Tut. “I'll be sure he gets it,” Boss assured Tut.

Tutix watched Boss walk away. The little Jawa let out a sigh and looked around the hangar. Yes, Tutix would miss the Ziost Avenger, but perhaps… oh just perhaps one day he would be back… he certainly hoped so....

The End.

Read the final installment: ”So, Boss is Captain Now?”
See the Scrapbook!!: Tutix's BIG Scrapbook: Ziost Avenger